Climbing device



Qa. 8, 1929. R. LABORDA 1,731,052

CLIMBING DEVI CE Filed Feb. 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 57 @ifi y y. ff l 5w @Wl -ff itx/4 15 /47 49 l,

s Pf 5 i 49 L"/ z 45 of; o' 57 l i 51 50 i 33' @l /5 5'/ 49 1 /50 59 5a i A/ u D, E ".1. 6 A' 1:10@ i] i INVENTOR R. LABORDA CLIMBING DEVICE Oct. s, 1929.

2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Feb. A16. 1927 INVENTOR BY( /a ATTO NEY Patented Oct. 8, 1929v stares rArsNr orties RICHARD LABOR-DA, OF BROOKLYN, NEW' YORK CLIMBING DEVICE Application filed February 16, 1927. Serial No. MSS/SL This invention relates to climbing devices, and has for its primary object to provide certain .nnprovcments in the device shown and described ink atent No. 1,585,925, issued to r, me on May 25, 1926.

It is one ot the important objects of the invention to provide a climbing device adapted Jror use in commercial establishments in place of the usual store ladders which may i.. be operated with great rapidity for the purpose ot quickly reaching and removing artic es stored upon the higher shelves and which is provided with means automatically acting to insure the absolute safety at all L; times ot the user.

lt is one of the detail ob'ects oit my invention to provide an improved construction and mounting ot the toot pedals or climbing members which are mounted upon opposite J sides ot the vertical column with improved connecting means ybetween said climbing members and a conntcrweight or other suitable equivalent means for raising or elevating the climbing members upon the column :.s whereby a step by vstep movement is imparted 'to the climbing members as the weight is alternately shifted trom one to the other.

Another eature of my present improvements resides in the novel form ot friction .11.; brutte automatically controlled by each climbrnember tor securely retaining the same in fixed relation to the col umn under the weight et the operator or user. f

r'nother object ot my invention is to pro- :.3 vide means in addition to said friction brakes l ywhereby both of the climbing members may be securely held in a stationary positionrela-y t've to the vertical column regardless of the distribution oft the operator-s weight thereon.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved climbin device and in the form, construction and relative arrangement ot rits several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

ln the drawings', wherein I have disclosed one simp e and practical embodiment of my 'L'fpresent improvements and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure l is a front elevation illustrating one embodiment ot my improved climbing device;

Fig. 2 is rarear elevation thereof, the upper end portion ot' the column being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation;

Fig. 4t is a rear elevation ot' the upperpart oli the device omitted from Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the upper portion ot the device omitted from Fig. 3;

Fi 6 is a detail horizontal section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on tl e .line 7--7 of Fig. 1;

F 8 is a detail section taken on the line 8 ot' Fig. 7, and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail elevation showing a modified form of the braking means for .l

one ot the climbing members.

n Referring in detail to the drawings, 5 designates'thc tubular metal column, preferably ot rectangular form which is suitablyr mounted and supported at its lower' end upon ,a ca riage indicated at 6, the wheels or rollers ot which are ar ranged to travel upon a suitable metal track or wear plate fixed to the floor surface. In spaced relation to the upper end ofi' said column a U-shaped metal bracket 8 is suitably fixed and preferably positioned at right angles to the col umn, the spaced arms ci the bracket extending rearwardly therefrom and supporting upper and lower rollers 9 which are. engaged with the ripper' and lower sides respectively, of a xed horizontally eX- tending guide rod 10. Between these rollers of the foot which is preferably member 22 also being provided with angu dicated at 13. To the lateral or side wall of one one of the members l2 and to the inner face thereof the horizontally disposed arms lelare secured adjacent the upper end of said member and project therefrom between the front and rear walls of the members i2' and .he corresponding walls of the member 5. il roller l5 is mount-ed between the other en is i said arms and has Contact upon one of t e eral side Talls of the column 5. simi- 'r of arms i6 are fixed to the other member l2 adjacent to its lower end and project in the opposite direction with iespect to the Ans let and the roller 17 mounted between the ends of said arms 16 has rolling contact uoon the other lateral or side wall of the rlhus the edges i3 of these memoers l2 are held in contacting engagement with each other and the members prevented m separatingi,T laterally and moving` out of A ative relation tothe column 5.

To the side wall of each of the members ls t its lower end a suitably formed bracket "i8 eted or otherwise securely fixen c carries a laterally projectii g' pivot stud pin i9 upon which the foot pedal or climbing member 2O is oscillatably supported. its

extending shoulders and 26 'espectively which are adapted to contact a y nd limit the swingingmovement of part 22 upwardly to an iuope 'attive position as shown in dotted lines in il ig. 8 of the drawings. Thus, these heel portions of the climbing members may be moved rom their preti' ing position into Vclose relation with the membersv l2 so that they will obstruct the passageway between the store counters and the wall.

To the other or forward end of each of the body members 2O an in vardly projecting pivot stud 27 is fined and upon tne same the spaced vertically positioned bars 28 are loose- 'e ly mounted intermediate of their ends, Be-

tween the upper and lower ends of these spaced bars 28, the rollers 29 are journalled and are adapted for rolling contact upon the outer side or a brake shoe 30 lined with friction material 3l which is adapted to engage the rear side wall of the column 5 below the corresponding wall of the member 12. The upper end of the brake shoe SO is connected bv a link with the bifurcated lug 83 which lined to the lov-:er end of the member l2.

rthe outer side face of the brake shoe 30 is provided at vertically spaced points with the cavities or recesses 3e which are adapted to receive the respective upper and lower rollers 29 in the oscillating movement of the climbing member in one direction to thereby relieve the frictional pressure of the brake shoe againstthe side wall of the column and thus permit of the free vertical movement of the climbing member and the member l2 relative to said column. Villen however, the climbing member is rocked in the opposite direction to move the rollers 29 out of the recesses or cavities to substantially the position shown in Fig'. 3 of the drawings, it will be apparent that the brake shoe 30 is forced inwardly to cause the lining 3l thereof to exert a frictional braking .pressure against the wall of the column, thereby securely holding the climbing member against shifting movement relative to the column.

it the opposite side of the column 5, the member 20 of each climbing device is also provided with an inwardly extending pivot stud upon which spaced vertically positioned bars 36 are pivoted intermediate of their ends, rollers 37 being,r mounted in the upper and lower ends of saidvbars and contacting directly with the side wall of the column 5. However if desired, as shown in lli 9 of the drawings, I may also provide at this side of the column an additional brake shoe for each of the climbing members, substantially of the same construction as above described. Further, as shown in this ligure, l may provide the side walls of the members l2 at tl eir lower ends with suitable antifriction rollers 38 mounted upon the inner faces thereof for contact with the side walls of the column.

rlhe brackets 18 are also preferably provided with parts extending downwardly below the respective members l2 and in which r'additional anti-friction rollers 39 are mounted for engagement with the opposite side faces of the column. Thus the greatest ease and fre dom of movement of the climbing members and the members l2 will be obtained.

A counterweight Ll() is vertically movable within the column 5 and the cable or other flexible element l-l connected with this counterweight is trained over a sheave or pulley 42 suitably journalled upon the rear side of the column 5 at its upper end, said cable extending downwardly over the front side of the guide sheave ll mounted in the bracket 8 and having its lower end connected by the link i3 with the hanger il in which a sheave or pulley 45 is journailed. A second cable or flexible element 46 extends around the upper part of this sheave 45, one end thereof being suitably secured to a. bracket member i7 fixed to the rear side wall of one of the members l2, while the other end of said cable is connected Withr a similar bracket 48 secured to the corresponding wall of the other member 12. A third cable orflexible element 49 is connected at one of its ends with the bracket 47 and is trained around the pulley or sheave- 50 mounted inthe upper end of a frame 5() which is free to move vertically relative to the members 12 and the column. The cable 49 extends upwardly from the sheave 50 and has its other end pivotally connected to a lever 51 at a point intermediate of its ends, one end of said lever being pivotally connected to a bracket 52 fixed to the rear side of one of the members 12. The pivotal movement of said lever in each direction is limited by a shoulder 53 formed on said bracket.

In the frame 50 a second guide pulley or sheave 54 is mounted and a fourth cable or flexible element 55 isy engaged with this sheave, one en d of this cable being suitably attached or connected to the part 20 of one of the climbing members adjacent itsr forward end, and the other end of said cable being similarly connected to the other climbing member.

At the upper end of each bracket 33 I preferably provide a compression spring 56 which is adapted to contact with the lower end of the frame 50 and yieldingly limit the upward movement of each climbing member and the `member 12 with respect to said frame.

I also preferably provide at the upper end of each of the members 12, a suitably formed fhandhold 57 and below7 said bracket member a suitable collapsible bracket or shelf 58 is 'pivotally connected with the member 12 at one of its ends as indicated at 59. A supporting rod or brace 6() for said bracket is pivoted at one end to the bracket and the other end thereof is adapted to be fitted int-o an opening or engaged with yother suitable means on the member 12 to sustain said bracket in a horihontally projecting position as shown at the the operator are firmly placed upon the two f climbing members at opposite sides of the col-y umn and when the weight is placed upon one foot and the forward endr of the foot tilted downwardly, the brake shoe 30 of the climbing member will be caused to firmly engage the wall of the column 5. At the same time, the other foot is lifted, and the counterweight 40 moving downwardly 'within the column, 'through the several cable and pulley connections with the said member, will obviously move the same upwardly together with the member 12 to which it connected while the other member 12 remains stationary.y By alternately shifting the weight from one foot to the other in this manner, a step by step upward movement is obtained until the operator has reached the desired elevation. In order to descend, the operation of the pedals is reversed andv they are alternately forced downwardly under the weight of the operator. The upward movement of the counterkposition whereby the point of connection of the cable 49 to said lever is disposed inwardly of the pivot 53 of the lever and pull on the cable through said lever lifts pulleys 59 and 54 and tilts the pedals 2O so as to apply the brakes. There is thus provided a means for operating the brakes 30 independently of foot pressure on the pedals to fixedly lock the climbing mechanism in a stationary position on the column 5. f

In the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a practical embodiment of the invention which has given excellent `results in practice. However, it is to be understood that the several novel features of my disclosure might also be elnbodied in various other alternative mechan# ical forms, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In a climbing device, a supporting column, two members movable along said column, a foot pedal pivotally mountedfupon each of said members, means connected with said members and operatively controlled by the foot pedals for imparting a step by step movement to said members alternately along said column, abrake shoe pivotally connected to each of said members and opposed to one side of the column, and means operated by each pedal and bearing against the respective brake shoe upon oscillatory movement of the pedal in one direction.

2. In a climbing device, a supporting column, two members movable along said column, a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon each of said members, means connected with said members and operatively controlled by the foot pedals for imparting a step by step movement to said members alternately along said column, a brake shoe pivotally connected y to each of'said members and opposed to one `side of the column, a pair of vertically spaced rollers carried by each pedal to travel upon one face of the brake shoe and adapted to hold `said brake shoe in frictional braking engagemcnt'with the `wall of the column and said face of the brake shoe being provided with lli) ILL)

spaced recesses to receive said rollers to permit of the pivotal movement ot the shoe out of braking engagement with the column.

3. In a climbing device, a supporting column, a pair of independently movable members extending longitudinally et the column, a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon the loiver end or' each of said members, means operatively controlled by said foot pedals tor imparting an alternate step by step movement to said members, and each ot' said toot pedals including a body section and a heel section pivotally connected thereto and movable into and out ot extended relation to the body section of the pedal.

fl. In a climbing device, a supporting column,longitudinally extending channel shaped members embracing and entirely closing said column and having their Walls spaced from the corresponding walls of the column, antiriction means carried by each ot said members slidably cooperating with thecolumn to hold the opposed edges or' the channel tlanges in Contact with each other, a toot pedal pivotally mounted upon the lower end of each of said members, and means controlled by saitl toot pedals for imparting an alternate step by step movement to said Channel members along the column.

5. In a climbing device, a supporting coliunn,longitudinally extending channel shaped members embracing and entirely closing said column and having th ir Walls spaced from the corresponding Walls of the column, means carried by each of said members slidably cooperating With the column to hold the opposed edges of the channel flanges in Contact with each other, a toot pedal pivotally mounted upon the lower end of each ot said members, a vertically movable trame, relatively movable flexible connections between said channel members and the trame and between said frame and the 'foot pedals, additional means operatively connected with said members adapted to in rt alternate step by step movement there-0 along 'the column upon the operatori et said pedals.

6. In a climbing device, a supporting column, tvvo channel members embracing said column and completely enclosing the same, means for retaining said channel members in assembled, relation to the columnivith the opposed edges of the channel flanges in sliding contact with each other, a Jroot pedal pivotally mounted upon the lower end ot each of the channel members, a brake device associated with each toot pedal and cooperating With the Wall of the column operated by a tilting movement of the pedal, a vertically movable frame, a pair of pulleys mounted in said frame, a flexible element movable around one of the pulleys and connected at its ends vwith the respective channel members, a secfond flexible element movable around the other pulley and connected at its ends with the respective pedals, and additional means operatively connected with the channel members and controlled by the operation otl said pedals to impart an alternate step by step movement to said members along the column.

7. ln a climbing device, a supporting column, tWo channel members embracing said column and completely enclosing the same, means for retaining said channel members in assembled relation to the column with the opposed edges of the channel flanges in sliding Contact with each other, a toot pedal pivotally mounted upon the lower end of each of the channel members, a brake device associated With each toot pedal and cooperating with the Wall oi' the column operated by a tilting movement of the pedal, a vertically movable trame, a pair of pulleys mounted in said trame, a liexible element movable around one ot the pulleys and connected at its ends with the respective channel members, a second flexible element movable around the other pulley and connected at its ends with the respective pedals, a counteriveight Within said column, a pulley and a flexible connection between said pulley and the countervveight, and a flexible element engaged around said pulley and connected at its opposite ends to the respective channel members to impart an alternate step by step movement to said members in the operation ci the pedals.

S. ln a climbing device, a supporting column, two channel members embracing said column and completely enclosing the same, means for retaining said channel members in assembled relation to the column with the opposed edges of the channel flangesin sliding Contact with each other, a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon the lovver end of each of the channel members, a brake device associated with each foot pedal and cooperating With the Wall of the column operated by a tilting movement ot the pedal, a vertically movable frame, a pair of pulleys mounted in said `frame, a flexible element movable around one of said pulleys and connected one ot its ends to one of the channel members, a lever pivotally mounted at one end upon one of the channel members, the other end of said flexible element beingT connected to said lever in spaced relation to the pivot thereof, said lever being operable to adjust said 1flexible element and move the frame vertically to thereby simultaneously tilt thepedals and loclr said brake devices in braking engagement with the column, a second flexible element movable around the other pulley and connected at its ends with the respective pcdals, and additional means operatively connected With the channel members and controlled by he operation of said pedals to impart an alternate step by step movement to said members along the column.

9. ln a climbing device, a supporting column, tvvo members movable along said colllt) umn, a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon each of said members, means connected with said members and operatively controlled by the foot pedals for imparting a step by step movement to said members alternately along said column, a brake shoe pivotally connected to each of said members and opposed to one side of the column, means carried by the pedals engaged respectively directly with the brake shoes 'for moving the same into braking` engagement with the column upon tilting movement of the pedal in one direction under foot pressure, and additional hand operated means connected with the foot pedals for simultaneously tilting the same and holding the brakes in applied position independently of foot pressure upon said pedals.

10. In a climbing' device, a supporting col l umn, two members movable along said column, a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon each of said members, a vertically movable frame, relatively movable flexible connections between said members and the 'frame and between said frame and the foot pedals, means operatively connected with said members to impart an alternate step by step movement thereto along the column upon the operation oi said pedals, a brake shoe conn nected to each of said members and opposed to one side of the column, means Carried by each pedal directly eoaeting` with the respeetive brake shoes to urge the same into braking engagement with the column upon tilting,- movement of the pedal in one direction under foot pressure, and hand operated means 'for adjusting said flexible connection between said frame and the members to move said frame relative to said members and simultaneously tilt the pedals to lock the brake shoes in their effective braking positions.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have rsigned `my name hereto.

RICHARD LABORDA. 

